Saturday, August 29, 2015

If Syrians are suffering from a humanitarian crisis, what can the UN do about it?

The
United Nations humanitarian chief has urged the Security Council to do
everything in its power to push for a political solution to end the conflict in
Syria, as he described the immense suffering and destruction he witnessed for
himself during a recent visit.

"It
is difficult to find words that would justly describe the depth of suffering
that the Syrians face on a daily basis. Having just returned from the country,
I have seen a glimpse of this grim reality myself," said
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief
Coordinator Stephen O’Brien.

"I
left the country deeply saddened and outraged," he continued. "The
needless and immense suffering of ordinary Syrians and the abhorrent
destruction this conflict has wrought on the country. I am angry, because we as
the international community are not allowed and are not able to do more to
protect Syrians who more than ever need our unfaltering support."

During
his three-day visit earlier this month, Mr. O’Brien discussed with senior
Government representatives the need to strengthen protection of civilians and
the overall humanitarian response.

"I
urged the Government to grant full and unhindered access to all people in need,
wherever they may be located. It is my sincere hope that the necessary steps
will be taken towards improving access, including approving requests for
inter-agency and agency convoys."

Since
the conflict began over four years ago, more than a quarter of a million people
have been killed in Syria and over a million people injured, Mr. O’Brien noted
in his briefing to the 15-member body. Some 7.6 million people have been
displaced inside the country. Over one million people have had to leave their
homes this year alone.

Over
four million people have fled across borders in a desperate search for survival
and a future, placing host countries and communities under pressure which is
now stretched to breaking point.

"We
may all be living on borrowed time. In the name of both security as well as
humanity, we do need to find a better, more sustainable way forward for the
wider international community to share the burden in hosting Syrian
refugees."

He
reported that, over the past month, violence has continued to escalate across
the country. Indiscriminate and targeted attacks by all parties to the conflict
have resulted in loss of life, destruction of infrastructure; and access to
basic services such as water, has been denied to hundreds of thousands of
Syrians.

"The
parties’ callous disregard for human life and basic survival seemingly knows no
bounds."

Despite
the increasingly challenging environment, millions of people continue to
receive lifesaving assistance using all available modalities, including across
borders, Mr. O’Brien stated.

During
the first half of 2015, UN agencies and non-governmental organisations provided
food assistance for 5.9 million people on average per month; medicine and
supplies for 9 million people; water and sanitation support for over five
million people; and basic relief items for more than four million people.

"While
these numbers are significant, I regret to say that many more could be reached
should unimpeded access be allowed," Mr. O’Brien said, voicing particular
concern about the severely limited access to the 4.6 million people living in
hard-to-reach and besieged areas.

During
the first half of 2015, the UN only reached 12 per cent of people in
hard-to-reach areas with food each month and 3.4 per cent with health supplies,
indicating major access challenges which limit the humanitarian community’s
ability to reach the most vulnerable and affected people in Syria.

Similarly,
parties to the conflict continue to heavily restrict access to besieged areas,
Mr. O’Brien reported. The UN managed to reach less than 1 per cent with food
and non-food items each month and 2 per cent with health supplies each month
during the first half of this year. In July, no food or other type of
humanitarian assistance by the UN reached any besieged areas through official
routes where some 422,000 people are located.

The
UN humanitarian chief said he came away from his visit to Syria
"determined not to give up, not to be exasperated by the relentless
repetitiveness of the challenges we as humanitarians face, and the need to
explore every avenue to do everything possible to provide life-saving aid and
protection to the people in need."

He
urged members of the Council to do everything in their power to end this
crisis. "With all the will in the world, humanitarian action cannot be a
substitute for political action. The Council must exert leadership to push for
a political solution." –End-